Wrench.



Patented Ian. 2, I900.

C. E. WILLIAMS.

WRENCH.

A lication filed Oct 9, 1899 7 m w 3 WW 2 8 V F Z 8 M s z 1 mm I A. MdM? m M I v UNITED STATES PATENT Trice.

CLARENCE E. WILLIAMS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO \VALTERH. BRUCE, OF SAME PLACE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,610, dated January2, 1900.

Application filed October 9, 1899 Serial No. 733,009. (No modeL) To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at WVoroester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful \Vrench, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a strong, simple, andeiiicient form of wrench which can be more readily set and adjusted foruse on different-sized nuts or bolts or other purposes than the forms ofwrenches now ordinarily employed.

To these ends my invention consists of the wrench and the combinationsof parts therein, as hereinafter described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wrenchconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspectiveView of the clamping-piece which is employed for securing the movablejaw of the wrench in its adjusted position, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view illustrating the operative parts employed for clampingthe movable jaw of a wrench constructed according to my invention inposition.

In nearly all the machinists wrenches which are in use to-day some formof screw adjustment is employed. To set or adjust a wrench to thedesired position by means of a screw or nut necessarily requires quite alit tle time, and where the character of the work is such as torequirefrequent adjustment of a wrench it is exceedingly desirable to provide aconstruction which can be instantly set or adjusted to the desiredposition. The desirability of a quick adjustment for wrenches has beenrecognized for a long time, and although many different forms ofquick-ad j ustment wrenches have been devised nearly all such wrencheshave been found to be objectionable, either because they fail to havethe necessary strength for practical usage, because too expensive inconstruction, or because the operative parts thereof have either beenunreliable or have been arranged and proportioned so as to be in theway, preventing the application and ready use of the wrench.

The especial object of my present invention is therefore to provide astrong, efficient, and inexpensive quick-adjustment wrench, in which theoperative parts are so arranged that they will fold back out of the waywhen the wrench is to be used.

A wrench constructed according to my invention and as herein illustratedpreferably comprises a shank having a fixed jaw or head of ordinaryconstruction.- The front edge of the shank is notched or serrated, andthe lower end of the wrench-shank may have a wooden handle mountedthereon in the ordinary manner. Movably mounted on the wrench-shank isthe adjustable or sliding jaw which is recessed or cutaway in its frontface. Fitting into this recess is a clamping-piece having teethcorresponding with the teeth in the wrench-shank. Springs normally holdthe clamping-piece out of engagement with the wrench-shank, and pivotedin the movable jaw is a cam-handle arranged to force the clamping pieceback into engagement with the wrench-shank. The cam-handle when in itslocked or clamped position swings down so that it may be turned back outof the Way, and by mounting the operative parts of my quick-adj ustingwrench in this manner I have provided a construction which is even morecompact than the ordinary form of wrench and in which the operativeparts may be readily set or adjusted as desired, and when clamped inposition they will not interfere with the free use of the wrench in anydesired location.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, a wrench constructed accordingto my invention as herein illustrated comprises a shank 11, having afixed head or jaw 10 preferably formed integrally therewith. The frontedge of the shank 11 is notched or serrated, as at 12.

Fitting onto the lower end of the wrenchshank 11 are ferrules 14 and 15,which support the ordinary wooden handle 17, these parts being securedin place by an end nut 16 in the ordinary manner.

The movable jaw 13 is mounted on the shank of the wrench, so that it isfree to be shifted or slid up and down thereon. The movable jaw 13 hasits front face recessed, and fitting into the recess of the movable jawis a clamping-piece 18. As shown most clearly'in Fig. 2, theclamping-piece 18 is provided with teeth corresponding with the teeth onthe wrench-shank. The clamping-piece 18 is provided with wings 19 and20, which are separated by a recess 21, which receives theclamping-lever. The wings 19 and 20 are offset with respect to eachother, the lower Wing 20 being set farther back to allow room for thecam-handle to swing back out of the Way when the parts are locked orfastened in position.

Fitting into sockets in the movable jaw 13 and normally holding theclamping-piece 1 8, as shown in Fig. 3, are small coiled springs 22.

A cam clamping-handle 23 is jonrnaled on a pin 21 in front of theclamping-piece 18, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, so that by shottingdown the cam-handle 23 the movable jaw 13 will be locked or fixed inposition, the locking-cam being proportioned so as to move slightly pastthe center of motion to secure a locking action, so that pressures onthe lockingepiece will not tend to move the lockinghandle outwardly, butwill tend to hold the same more tightly in ite locked position.

I am aware that my wrench maybe changed in the details of itsconstruction by those who are skilled in the art, and that myconstruction for securing a quick adjustment may he applied for theoperation of pipe-wrenches and similar devices without departing fromthe scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I do not wish,therefore, tovbe limited to the construction I have herein shown anddescribed; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. In a wrench, the combination of the shank having the fixed jaw, amovable jaw having a front recesstherein,aclamping-piece mounted in therecess, said clamping-piece having upper and lower wings which areengaged by springs for normally holding the clampingpiece back out ofengagement with the wrench-shank, and a downwardly-clamping earn-handle,the lower wing of the clampingpiece being set back to permit thecam-handle to fold into the recess in the front of the movable jaw whenthe parts are clamped in fixed position, substantially as described.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a shank 11 having an integral fixedjaw 10 at its upper end, and a handle at its lower end, a movable jaw 13having a recess in the front face thereof, a clamping-piece l8 fittingtherein, Wings 19 and 20 extending from the clamping piece to engagesprings :22, and a downwardlyelampin g cam-handle 23 arranged to foldback into the recess of the movable jaw when the parts are secured infixed position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE E. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

LOUIS W. Soo'rnonrn, PHILIP W. SOUTHG-ATE.

